Comparison of the chemical constituents of aged pu-erh tea, ripened pu-erh tea, and other teas using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn

Pu-erh tea is a popular beverage in southwestern China and South Asian countries. To explain the differences of aged pu-erh tea and ripened pu-erh tea, the chemical constituents of these teas were identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS(n). In addition, HPLC was used to determine the contents of the major polyphenols, gallic acid, caffeine, and theobromine, in various types of teas. These results showed that the majority of chemical constituents in ripened pu-erh tea and aged pu-erh tea were similar, but the contents of catechins and gallic acid presented significant differences between these two teas. After fermentation by microorganism, the levels of catechins in ripened pu-erh tea were decreased, but the contents of gallic acid and caffeine were conversely elevated compared with aged pu-erh tea.     

Food consumption patterns in an adult urban population in Beirut, Lebanon

OBJECTIVES: To investigate, measure and assess the food consumption pattern of the adult population living in Beirut, Lebanon, and to identify inadequate or excessive intake of food groups particularly linked to non-communicable diseases. DESIGN: A cross-sectional food consumption survey was conducted in 2001. Dietary habits were assessed by means of a quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. SETTING: Dietary survey of the urban population (Beirut). SUBJECTS: Random sample of 444 adult subjects (aged 25-54 years) in Beirut. RESULTS: The mean consumption of food by the study population was estimated to be 3,030 g day(-1), providing an energy intake of 2,523.57 kcal day(-1). Fat contributed 38.9% to the average daily energy intake, protein 13.4% and carbohydrates 47.2%. Mean consumption of fruits and vegetables was approximately 367 g day(-1) and 45.3% of subjects consumed less than the recommended 400 g daily. Cereals contributed 324.5 g day(-1), providing 35.0% of daily energy intake, with bread being the most highly consumed (146.2 g day(-1)) in this food group. The mean intake of meat and poultry products was 91.7 g day(-1) and provided 8.8% of daily energy intake, with consumption of butchery products especially beef being the highest (47.6 g day(-1)) followed by poultry (36.1 g day(-1)). A low consumption of fish was noted (19.7 g day(-1)), with 73.6% of subjects consuming less than the recommended 2 servings of fish per week. Dairy products contributed 243.1 g day(-1) or 10.9% of daily energy intake, and milk was the least consumed dairy product (56.8% of consumers). The intake of added fats and oils, excluding those in cooked recipes, was 20.4 g day(-1); olive oil was not used in cooking but was added solely at the table and its mean intake was 5 g day(-1). The consumption of butter was low (0.86 g day(-1)) and vegetable oil was the type of fat mostly used in cooking. The average intake of alcoholic beverages was low (33.6 g day(-1)), accounting for 0.7% of total energy intake. Women had significantly higher intakes of milk, dairy products, vegetables and coffee than men (P < 0.05). The percentage of women who reported the use of low-fat items was significantly higher than that of men. Younger people (25-34 years) ate significantly more meat, sugar, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, and consumed significantly less cooked vegetables and legumes, than older ones (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The rather high contribution of fat to daily energy intake, the low intake of fish and the relatively high percentage of people consuming less than the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables observed in this study suggest that the adult Lebanese population is at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and other non-communicable diseases, which provides the basis for recommending increased intakes of fish, particularly fatty fish, and fruits and vegetables.     

Changes in organosulfur compounds in garlic cloves during storage

We determined the changes in the contents of three gamma-glutamyl peptides and four sulfoxides in garlic cloves during storage at -3, 4, and 23 degrees C for 150 days using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method that we reported recently. When garlic was stored at 4 degrees C for 150 days, marked conversion of the gamma-glutamyl peptides, gamma-L-glutamyl-S-allyl-L-cysteine and gamma-L-glutamyl-S-(trans-1-propenyl)-L-cysteine (GSPC), to sulfoxides, alliin and isoalliin, was observed. Interestingly, however, when garlic was stored at 23 degrees C, a decrease in GSPC and a marked increase in cycloalliin, rather than isoalliin, occurred. To elucidate in detail the mechanism involved, the conversion of isoalliin to cycloalliin in both buffer solutions (pH 4.6, 5.5, and 6.5) and garlic cloves at 25 and 35 degrees C was examined. Decreases in the concentration of isoalliin in both the solutions and the garlic cloves during storage followed first-order kinetics and coincided with the conversion of cycloalliin. Our data indicated that isoalliin produced enzymatically from GSPC is chemically converted to cycloalliin and that the cycloalliin content of garlic cloves increases during storage at higher temperature. These data may be useful for controlling the quality and biological activities of garlic and its preparations.     

我国玉米杂交种在布隆迪的筛选比较试验

在中非国家布隆迪高、中、低3个生态区开展了我国玉米杂交种的筛选．结果表明：与当地对照种相比．南校9665和云瑞6号2个品种在3个试验区平均增产38．1％和153．9％：南校18号在低、中海拔区增产38．1％、64．6％：农大95等3个品种在中、高海拔区增产率35．1％-130．5％;云瑞8号、南玉5号等12个品种在中海拔区增产31．7％～125．8％：迪卡008等3个品种在高海拔区增产41．3％~63_2％。来自我国南方及西南区选育的品种在当地适应性相对较好．引种品种在布隆迪非洲条纹病毒病疫区感病。此外．当地玉米种植技术落后,管理不科学,为发挥引进品种产量潜力需配套开发适应当地生产水平和种植方式的管理技术．     

Analysis of virgin olive oil volatiles by a novel electronic nose based on a miniaturized SAW sensor array coupled with SPME enhanced headspace enrichment

A novel electronic nose based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor array has been used to analyze different quality virgin olive oils. A mathematical model was designed with 37 samples to distinguish lampante from the other virgin olive oils categories (extra-virgin and virgin), because lampante-virgin olive oils cannot be consumed without a previous refining process. The model, successfully validated with a test set of 16 samples, was able to classify 90% of the samples correctly. Misclassifications were explained by SPME-HRGC analyses and a second sensory evaluation.     

Subcellular localization and isoenzyme pattern of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase in beet root (Beta vulgaris L.)

The two enzymes involved in enzymatic browning reactions, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (PO), have been partially purified and extracted from different fractions of beet root. PPO is mainly located in the membrane fraction, and it was also found in the soluble fraction. In both cases PPO was in its latent state. However, PO activity was higher in the soluble fraction than in the membrane fraction. Nevertheless, the highest values of specific activity for PO were obtained from the solubilized enzyme from acetone powders. Under native isoelectric focusing (IEF), several PPO isoenzymes were present in the pH range of 4.8-5.8. All of these isoenzymes shared a single band with a similar apparent mass under sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. PO was also analyzed by IEF, showing a complex isoenzyme pattern in all fractions. The characteristic basic PO isoenzyme of high pI found in both the soluble fraction and the solubilized enzyme from acetone powders was not detected in the membrane fraction. The kinetic characterization of PPO and PO from all fractions was carried out.     

考虑随机降雨时水稻灌溉制度模型

本文基于水量平衡方程,同时将降雨和蒸腾视为随机变量,提出了水稻的灌溉制度模型。要考虑随机降雨和腾发量的影响,需首先对以往的降雨和腾发系列进行分析,以期对末来的降雨和腾发量进行预报,再根据此预报值确定水稻在末来时段的需水量。分别根据降雨和腾发系列的特点,用统计方法对二者进行数据处理。本文的模型在应用于所研究的灌区时结果令人满意。在雨季,即使灌溉系统以较高的概率水平运行时也能够节省大量用水。     

茄子褐色圆星病在辽宁抬头

１９９８年辽宁海城西四镇保护地栽培茄子发生危害叶部的病害。其病症,叶片上病斑圆形,近圆形,直径２～７ｍｍ,中央灰褐色,边缘红褐色,有不明显的轮纹。病斑边缘产生灰白色霉状物,生于叶面和叶背。病斑多时叶片枯死,后期严重时病斑破裂穿孔。病样经分离培养,光电...     

向日葵黑斑病防治研究

目前已知在向日葵上发生有90多种病害,其中黑斑病、锈病、菌核病和霜霉病是危害最严重的四大病害。 向日葵黑斑病1943年首次发现于乌干达,1950年在坦桑尼亚,1962年在北罗得西亚,1964年在印度北部,1963年在日本,1964年在南斯拉夫,1971年在巴西、伊朗、澳     

从森林集水区增加径流的潜力

森林实际上仅仅作为景观要素而已,至今仍未深刻地受到技术发展的影响。森林集水区里不断形成相当数量的水资源,同时森林集水区的水质优良,可溶性化学物质的含量比田间集水区低几倍。目前,人们日益重视寻找从森林集水区获得更多径流量的方法。众所周知,人们感兴趣的试验是砍伐或更新与其它植物群落混生的森林对径流的数量及质量的影响,但是对