Effect of Whole Grain Wheat Flour on the Mixing Properties,Oil Uptake,and In Vitro Starch Digestibility of Instant Fried Noodles

The effects of whole grain wheat (WGW) flour on the quality attributes of instant fried noodles were characterized in terms of mixing and oil‐resisting properties as well as in vitro starch digestibility. Higher water absorption and shorter kneading time were required to obtain the optimally mixed dough from WGW flour, and the presence of nonstarch components in the WGW flour lowered the thermal conductivity of the noodles. The use of WGW flour produced instant fried noodles with oil uptake reduced by 30%, which could be correlated with the less porous structure confirmed by the surface and cross‐sectional scanning electron microscope images. When the instant fried noodles were subjected to in vitro starch digestion, the use of WGW flour was effective in suppressing the hydrolysis of starch in the noodles, and the predicted glycemic index of the WGW noodles (80.6) was significantly lower than that of the white wheat noodles (83.3).     

Shallow lateral flow from a forested hillslope: Influence of antecedent wetness

A 5-m-wide soil pit at the base of a forested hillslope in coastal British Columbia was instrumented for studying subsurface flow processes during rainstorms. Three typical, low-intensity autumn rainfall events with different antecedent moisture conditions are assessed. Outflow from the organic horizon was captured and measured by a single trough, and outflow from the mineral horizon (above compact glacial till and bedrock) was measured separately for three adjacent sections of the soil pit. For two storms that were preceded by dry conditions, lateral outflow from the organic horizon occurred, although the water table did not rise up to the organic horizon. However, the calculated effective contributing area was small (<0.7 m²) and the effective contributing slope length was short (<0.15 m). Furthermore, volumes of outflow from the organic horizon during these storms were more than 400 times less than during a later storm with wet antecedent conditions. During this later storm, a portion of the outflow from the organic horizon may have been generated as saturated overland flow due to the rising water table. The calculated effective contributing area (>170 m²) and the effective contributing slope length (>36 m) were substantially greater for the “wet” antecedent storm compared to the “dry” storm events. Shallow lateral flow over unsaturated soil is therefore unlikely to be a significant contributor to storm runoff at such forested sites. Flow at the organic horizon–mineral soil interface may contribute to interconnected preferential flow pathways during wetter antecedent conditions.     

Formation,characterization, and glucose response in mice to rice starch with low digestibility produced by citric acid treatment

The optimum conditions for producing rice starch enriched in slowly digestible and resistant fractions by citric acid treatment determined by a response surface methodology (RSM) model equation, were: reaction temperature, 128.4 °C; reaction time, 13.8 h; and citric acid, 2.62 mmol/20 g starch. The slowly digestible and resistant starch fractions of the optimally acid-treated rice starch totalled 54.1%, which was 28.1% higher than the control. The slowly digestible and resistant fractions of the acid-treated rice starch did not differ significantly after heat treatment, whereas those of raw rice starch decreased by 49.6–63.8%, depending on the type of heat treatment (cooking at 100 °C or autoclaving). The slowly digestible fraction of the acid-treated starch increased by 8.9–14.2%. After autoclaving, the glucose response of the acid-treated starch was lower than untreated starch, but similar to that of Novelose 330. After heat treatment, the rate of blood glucose decrease was slower for the acid-treated starch than for Novelose 330. Compared to raw rice starch, the acid-treated starch exhibited increases in apparent amylose content, blue value, dextrose equivalent, cold-water solubility and transmittance, and decreases in wavelength of maximum absorbance, viscosity, and gel-forming ability.     

Improved quantitative analysis of oligosaccharides from lichenase-hydrolyzed water-soluble barley beta-glucans by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography

Cereal beta-glucan is a linear biopolymer linked by beta-(1,3)/(1,4)-glycosidic bonds. More specifically, the beta-(1,4)-linked glucose chain is interrupted with beta-(1,3)-linkages in cereal beta-glucan structure. Elucidation of the exact length and distribution of linear beta-(1,4)-linked portion facilitates the understanding of the fine structure of cereal beta-glucan. A HPAEC assisted by lichenase treatment has been used for the structural and quantitative analysis of cereal beta-glucan. The absence of authentic standard oligosaccharides, putatively 3-O-beta-cellobiosyl-D-glucose (DP3) and 3-O-beta-cellotriosyl-D-glucose (DP4), was a potential problem to the characterization of beta-glucan structure. In this study, two major lichenase-hydrolyzed products were generated from the barley beta-glucan, and putative 3-O-beta-cellobiosyl-D-glucose and 3-O-beta-cellotriosyl-D-glucose were separated and highly purified by recycling preparative HPLC technology. Structural analysis of highly purified putative 3-O-beta-cellobiosyl-D-glucose and 3-O-beta-cellotriosyl-D-glucose was performed by TLC and LC-MS analysis. Two putative DP3 and DP4 displayed the nonreducing end/(1,4)/(1,3) linkage ratios of 1:0.96:0.90 and 1:2.18:1.16, respectively; the molecular masses (m/z) of their sodium adducts were 527.0 and 689.0, respectively. Using these structurally confirmed oligosaccharides, the exact amounts of beta-glucan lichenase hydrolysates from domestic barley cultivars were quantified. The amount of two major DP3 and DP4 accounted for only 71.4-73.3% of water-extractable beta-glucan fraction, and the (1,4)/(1,3) linkage ratios of the extracted beta-glucans were almost identical in the range of 2.24-2.25 among the barley cultivars tested.     

EFFECTS OF SOIL SALINITY IN THE GROWTH OF AMBROSIA ARTEMISIIFOLIA BIOTYPES COLLECTED FROM ROADSIDE AND AGRICULTURAL FIELD

Morphological differences were observed between roadside (R) and agricultural field (F) biotypes of Ambrosia artemisiifolia, in which R-type seedlings were shorter and produced larger and heavier seeds under greenhouse grown conditions. Previous findings indicated that A. artemisiifolia R-types exhibited greater salt tolerance with respect to germination. However, the impact of biotype and salt tolerance on morphological variation has not been investigated in A. artemisiifolia plants. After performing replicated greenhouse experiments with both biotypes, it was shown that salinity level was a critical factor influencing both seedling and mature plant size and this response was dependent upon biotype. The R-type exhibited slight but significant increases in growth at low/mild salinity levels (50–100 mM) compared with non-saline conditions, while the F-type exhibited significantly reduced growth at the low/mild salinity levels. The reductions in growth of F-type plants in low/mild salinity were similar to those reductions of R-types observed in non-saline conditions. As both biotypes produced seeds at low/mild salinity levels, we conclude that low/mild salinity affects A. artemisiifolia plant size and overall growth rate, and secondly, certain F-type plants may acclimate to the roadside environment over time by reducing their size while producing larger seed under saline conditions. It is possible that this species may exhibit changes in morphology after several generations of exposure to saline roadside conditions. Toxicity due to salt treatment at high salinity (400 mM) was observed in both biotypes, whereas the R-type was more tolerant to both low and high salinity levels with respect to seed germination. Differential A. artemisiifolia growth responses which occur from seed germination to plant maturity may be partially attributed to its ability to tolerate saline soil conditions both under greenhouse and field conditions. This ability to tolerate saline conditions may be especially important in early spring when roadside soils experience increased salinity, caused by de-icing salt treatments applied during the winter season.     

Comparison of vancomycin-resistant enterococci isolates from human, poultry and pigs in Korea

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen. Since 1989, a rapid increase in the incidence of enterococcal bacteremia and endocarditis by VRE has been reported. The use of avoparcin in animal husbandry is reportedly associated with the appearance of VRE. In this study, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was established to detect and differentiate resistant types of enterococci, which specifically amplify the four van genes that encode vancomycin resistance elements. Using this method, we investigated the incidence rates and types of VRE from two types of farms: those that had used avoparcin and those that had not used avoparcin. A total of 1091 animal fecal samples were collected from 70 pig farms and 32 poultry farms. A total of 425 enterococci were isolated from the fecal samples. Among the 425 isolates, six showed a pattern of high-level vancomycin resistance (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration, MIC: 64-256 microg/ml). Out of six high-level VRE, three were isolated from poultry farms that had used avoparcin and three were not. The six high-level VRE harbored the vanA gene. Sixty-seven of 425 isolates that showed a pattern of low-level vancomycin resistance (MIC: 4-8 microg/ml) were associated with the presence of vanC-1 or vanC-2/3 gene. We also performed a repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (rep-PCR) method to compare the genetic relatedness between the high-level VRE of six animal isolates and 31 human isolates. None of the animal isolates had a similar rep-PCR pattern as the human isolates but similarities between human VRE isolates were observed.     

Expression of estrogen receptor alpha and beta in the uterus and vagina of immature rats treated with 17-ethinyl estradiol

The action of estrogen on target organs has been actively studied with the discovery of estrogen receptor (ER) beta. This study was carried out to examine the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the uterus and the vagina of immature Sprague-Dawley rats treated with 17-ethinyl estradiol (EE). Twenty days old rats were subcutaneously treated with EE at the doses of 0 (vehicle control), 0.03, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, and 10.0 microg/kg/day for three consecutive days. The treatment of EE at the doses of 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 microg/kg/day significantly increased the weights of the uterus and vagina of rats (p<0.01) and retained fluid in the uterus of rats. At the high doses of 3.0 and 10.0 microg/kg/day, the treatment of EE caused an increase in the uterine height, hypertrophy, and a decrease in the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the uterine luminal and glandular epithelium. The treatment of EE at the doses of 3.0 and 10.0 microg/kg/day also caused cornification and a decrease in the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the vaginal epithelium. These results suggest that the EE treatment decrease the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the uterus and vagina of immature rats and that may be associated with the morphological changes such as increase in the uterine height, hypertrophy of the uterine epithelium, and cornification of the vagina.     

Spatial structure and inter-firm networks of technical and information producer services in Seoul,Korea

A spatial and sectoral reorganisation of producer services has begun to change the urban structure of Seoul. In addition to the existing centre of the CBD, two areas, Kangnam and Yongdeungpo, have emerged as the new centres of producer services in Seoul resulting from relocations from the CBD and the location of firm start-ups and spin-offs, so creating a multi-centred structure. There is a difference between the centres related to the fact that Kangnam is specialised in advanced services and has strong local networks among service firms, firms in Yongdeungpo have strong forward linkages to nearby manufacturing firms and to larger producer service firms, while firms in the CBD are relatively older and have much more intensive overseas ties. This outcome illustrates that shifts in the organisation of producer services in favour of outsourcing have been felt in shifts in spatial patterns. These new structures illustrate that producer service location and operation have a powerful influence upon the pattern of development in Seoul.     

In vivo control and in vitro antifungal activity of rhamnolipid B,a glycolipid antibiotic,against Phytophthora capsici and Colletotrichum orbiculare

The glycolipid antibiotic rhamnolipid B isolated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain B5 was evaluated for in vitro antifungal activity and in vivo control against phytophthora blight and anthracnose under glasshouse conditions. Rhamnolipid B showed antifungal activity against Cercospora kikuchii, Cladosporium cucumerinum, Colletotrichum orbiculare, Cylindrocarpon destructans, Magnaporthe grisea and Phytophthora capsici. Microscopic observation revealed that the high level of antifungal activity (10 µg ml ⁻¹) against P capsici was mainly due to a lytic effect on zoospores. Zoospore lysis began in the presence of 10 µg ml ⁻¹ of rhamnolipid B and most of the zoospores were collapsed at 25 µg ml ⁻¹. Rhamnolipid B showed inhibitory activity against the germination of zoospores and hyphal growth of P capsici at concentrations of 50 µg ml ⁻¹. Spore germination of the anthracnose plant pathogen C orbiculare was also inhibited in the presence of 50 µg ml ⁻¹ of rhamnolipid B, although hyphal growth was not affected at this concentration. In the glasshouse, the efficacy of rhamnolipid B against phytophthora blight was similar to that of metalaxyl on pepper plants when treated just before inoculation with P capsici. Treatment with either at 500 µg ml ⁻¹ completely protected pepper plants from phytophthora blight. Rhamnolipid B also suppressed the development of C orbiculare infection on leaves of cucumber plants. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry