Effect of storage on the biochemical and processing quality of Adzuki Bean (Vigna angularis)

Storage of adzuki beans and other pulse grains causes biochemical and physical changes that affect the hydration properties of the beans. This affects the quality of products made from the beans such as the Japanese bean paste “ann.” Storage, particularly under unfavourable conditions, leads to the “hard shell” phenomenon, where beans fail to imbibe water when soaked and remain hard, and the “hard-to-cook” phenomenon where the seeds hydrate normally, but the cotyledon fails to hydrate and soften during cooking. The hard shell phenomenon is attributable to impermeability of the seed coat to water, which is due to biochemical changes in the seed coat, such as the formation of protein-tannin complexes, and biophysical changes such as reduction in size or closure of the straphiole aperture in the hilum area—the main area for water entry into the adzuki bean. The hard-to-cook phenomenon is due to changes in the cotyledon tissue, which include formation of insoluble pectinates, lignification of the cell wall and middle lamella, interaction of condensed tannins with proteins and starch, and changes to the structure and functionality of the cellular proteins and starch.

Regional variations in walking for different purposes : the south east Queensland quality of life study

Where people are located can influence behavioral choices and health outcomes through the effects of place on health. Walking is the most commonly reported form of nonoccupational and nonhousehold physical activity for adults. It is a behavior of particular interest to those in the transportation, urban planning, and public health fields. Researchers have examined patterns of walking from both an individual perspective (psychological and social factors) and from a broader community focus (location and built environment factors). The majority of studies have examined walking in the context of urban environments. Variations within regions (urban, periurban, and rural, for example) in walking have not been previously described. We use data from a regionally based quality of life survey to examine subregional variations in walking for particular purposes. Both the social and contextual variations that may underlie these differences are considered. This is useful in helping identify particular factors that may be further investigated in disaggregated analyses using GIS methods to identify specific differences in objective attributes between subregions that may influence peoples' choices to walk, such as walking infrastructure and the availability of destinations.

Impact of ripening stages of banana flour on the quality of extruded products

The study investigated the physical, nutritional and sensory properties of different ripening stages of banana during extrusion processing in combination with rice flour to develop quality snack products. Dehydrated banana flours at ripening stages 4, 5 and 6 (peel colour) were mixed separately at 40% banana to 60% rice flour levels. The mixtures were extruded through a twin-screw extruder at 120 °C barrel temperature, 220 and 260 r.p.m, screw speed and 12% feed moisture. Increase in ripeness indicated negative effect on expansion and water absorption capacity while increasing the water solubility index and moisture retention (wet basis) of the products. Protein and mineral (except for zinc and copper) content of the products were significantly different (P < 0.05) from 4 to 6 of the ripening stages. Most of the essential amino acids in the extruded products increased significantly (P < 0.05) at the ripening stage of 6. All the products were within the acceptable range in the 9-point Hedonic scale showing the best texture and flavour scores for stage 4 and 6, respectively. The extruded products show potential as snack products because of their nutritional quality and sensory acceptability.

Quality of life indexes for national policy: review and agenda for research

A number of governments and public policy institutes have developed ldquoQuality of Life Indexesrdquo – statistics that attempt to measure the quality of life for entire states or regions. We develop 14 criteria for determining the validity and usefulness of such QOL indexes to public policy. We then review 22 of the most-used QOL indexes from around the world. We conclude that many of the indexes are successful in that they are reliable, have established time series measures, and can be disaggregated to study subpopulations. However, many fall short in four areas: (1) indexes vary greatly in their coverage and definitions of domains of QOL, (2) none of the indexes distinguish among the concepts of input, throughput, and output that are used by public policy analysts, (3) they fail to show how QOL outputs are sensitive to public policy inputs, and (4) none have examined convergent validity against each other. We conclude that many of these indexes are potentially very useful for public policy and recommend research to further improve them.

A Rasch anaylsis of a self-perceived change in quality of life scale in patients with mild stroke

A Rasch analysis was used to assess the unidimensionality and appropriateness of the scoring level of a 13-item self-perceived change in quality of life scale (CQOL) for stroke patients. A total of 158 patients with mild stroke completed the CQOL themselves at home. The results showed that a unidimensional CQOL can be created by deleting the three items related to speaking, vision, and thinking. The 4 scoring categories of the shortened scale were deemed appropriate from the analysis. These results provide preliminary evidence of the 10-item CQOL in assessing self-perceived change in quality of life in stroke patients. Further studies are needed to examine the test-retest reliability, criterion validity, and responsiveness of the 10-item CQOL in stroke patients.

Self-perceived quality of life for adolescents with physical disabilities - a preliminary study

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of physical disabilities (PD) on the quality of life (QoL) of adolescents aged from 10 to 18 years. Sixty-three adolescents with PD (aged 14.9 ± 2.4 years) from primary (5th grade or above) to high schools in Kaohsiung City volunteered to participate in this research; 282 children without disability (aged 13.8 ± 2.3 years) attending schools in the same geographical region were recruited as controls. The Student Version of the Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale was used in this study. This is a multidimensional self-report, global measure of subjective and objective QoL. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that the two groups were significantly different in objective QoL (F = 11.53, p < 0.001). Material wellbeing was substantially lower in the PD group when compared to the control group. In contrast, domains such as productivity, safety, and emotion were higher in the PD group. Among the subjective scales, the PD group showed higher productivity and better emotion when compared to the control group. No significant correlation was observed between objective and subjective overall QoL scores (r = 0.20, p = 0.12) in the PD group. These findings showed that subjects with PD in regular schools demonstrated different patterns in objective and subjective QoL when compared to those without PD. Both subjective and objective domains are important when measuring QoL of adolescents with PD.

Defining quality of life for Chinese elderly stroke survivors

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the constituents and conceptual characteristics of the quality of life (QOL) of Chinese elderly stroke survivors, living in the community in Hong Kong.

Method: A triangulated approach was used to identify the QOL components for this population. This process involved a comparison of QOL components gathered from three different methods, namely, focus group interviews, review of the literature and the contents of the generic Hong Kong Chinese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (CWHOQOL-HK). Five health professionals were involved in the comparison process. A percentage of inter-judge agreement was used to determine the reliability of the comparisons made between the judges.

Results: This study identified 36 components considered to contribute to the QOL of Chinese elderly stroke survivors in Hong Kong. The conceptual characteristics of their QOL generally concurred with those identified in the literature.

Conclusion: Both similarities and differences were found in the QOL components identified in this study when compared to those identified in studies of Western populations who are elderly and had a stroke. The contents of the CWHOQOL-HK scale were found to lack adequacy in representing the QOL of Chinese elderly stroke survivors in Hong Kong. Recommendations are given, based on the findings of this study, to overcome this limitation for its application as a QOL measure for this population.

Conceptualization, measurement, and application of quality of life for persons with intellectual disabilities: report of an international panel of experts

In this article a number of issues involving the concept of quality of life as applied to persons with intellectual disabilities are summarized, and a number of agreed-upon principles regarding its conceptualization, measurement, and application are presented. We realize that the concepts and models presented in this article will vary potentially from country to country, and even from area to area within countries. The cross-cultural understanding of the concept of quality of life is in its infancy, and we hope that the discourses resulting from the material presented in this article will facilitate both cross-cultural understanding and collaborative work. The article reflects current thought about the conceptualization, measurement, and application of this increasingly important and widely used concept in the field of intellectual disabilities and sets the stage for its continuing development.

Regional and urban Victorian diabetic youth: clinical and quality-of-life outcomes

Objectives: To compare groups of urban and regional Victorian diabetic children and assess their quality of life, diabetes knowledge, access to services and metabolic control.

Methods: Forty-seven children from three regional Victorian communities (Horsham, Warrnambool and Sale; n = 16, 18 and 13, respectively) were compared with 120 age-, sex- and duration of diabetes-matched children attending the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) diabetes clinic in Melbourne. Quality of life, diabetes knowledge, use of services, and metabolic control were assessed using the child health questionnaire (CHQ PF-50/CF-80); a diabetes-knowledge questionnaire; access to a diabetes nurse educator (DNE), dietitian and complication screening; and indices of mean HbA1C (values are taken every 3 months in the 'yearly HbA1C'), respectively.

Results: Comparisons of CHQ data showed that regional diabetic youth scored significantly lower on most subscales. The greatest deficits were seen in areas of mental health, self-esteem, parent impact (emotional) and family cohesion. Diabetes knowledge and median yearly HbA1C for patients were not significantly different between the regional and urban centres (8.1%, 8.9%, 8.4% and 8.6% at RCH, Horsham, Warrnambool and Sale, respectively). Patients in regional centres had reportedly less access to team-based diabetes care.

Conclusions: Regional youth in Victoria, with similar levels of metabolic control and diabetes knowledge as their urban counterparts, have a markedly lower quality of life, implying a negative synergy between diabetes and the demands of regional lifestyles.

Validity of the assessment of quality of life (AQoL) utility instrument in patients with operable and inoperable lung cancer

There have been few longitudinal studies of quality of life in patients with all stages of lung cancer, particularly those that have included measures of utility. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Assessment of Quality of Life instrument (AQoL) in patients with lung cancer. The AQoL is a health-related quality of life questionnaire and provides a descriptive system for a multi-attribute utility instrument (MAU), so that scores can be used in cost-utility evaluations. In the present study the reliability (internal consistency) of the AQoL was examined and the concurrent validity was assessed using the Medical Outcomes 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) as the comparator instrument. The sensitivity to different health states of the AQoL and the responsiveness to change over time was also examined. A prospective, non-experimental cohort study was undertaken. Ninety-two participants with all stages of lung cancer were recruited from a tertiary multi-disciplinary lung cancer clinic. Ninety participants had non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and two had limited stage small cell lung cancer. The AQOL and SF-36 surveys were administered concurrently at baseline. In patients with NSCLC the surveys were then repeated 3 and 6 months later. Correlations between the baseline AQoL summary scales and SF-36 summary scales support the divergent and convergent validity of the AQoL. Reliability was also found to be sufficient (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.76). In addition, in patients with inoperable NSCLC, baseline AQoL scores were found to be predictive of survival at 6 months in Cox proportional hazards multivariate analysis. However, the physical components summary score of the SF-36 was more sensitive to differences in health states between patients with different stages of NSCLC at 6 months of follow-up and more responsive to change over time in both operable and inoperable patients with NSCLC than the AQoL. The findings support the construct validity and reliability of the AQoL in this population. However, there remains some uncertainty about whether the AQoL has sufficient sensitivity to different health states in this population. Further studies using other MAU instruments may determine whether alternative instruments are more sensitive to different health states in individuals with lung cancer.

Quality-of-life measurement in patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: a Hong Kong experience

The aims of this study are (1) to establish a reliable and valid quality-of-life (QOL) questionnaire for Chinese patients with head and neck (H&N) cancer who are treated with radiation therapy and (2) to evaluate the impact of the immediate side effects of treatment on the QOL of these patients. The 39-item "Quality of Life Radiation Therapy Instrument with Head and Neck Companion Module" (QOL-RTI/H&N) was translated into Chinese. In the reliability evaluation phase (study module 1), the questionnaire was administered twice to 56 H&N cancer patients, 7 days apart, during the second and third week of radiation therapy. In the validity evaluation phase (study module 2), 138 patients completed the QOL-RTI/H&N before starting and at the end of radiation therapy. Sixty-nine of these 138 patients also completed the QOL-RTI/H&N during the second week of their radiation therapy, at the same time as completing the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck (FACT-H&N) questionnaire. Cronbach alpha coefficients were 0.88 for the general-tool QOL-RTI and 0.90 for the H&N subscale. Test-retest reliability was satisfactory with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.89 for the general-tool QOL-RTI and 0.75 for the H&N subscale. The instrument can discriminate between patients with stage I or II disease and those with stage III or IV disease (P < .05). Concurrent validity was established by the good agreement with the FACT-H&N (r = 0.86, P < .001). A highly significant deterioration was in the QOL from the baseline to the end of treatment (mean difference for general tool = 1.95, P < .001; mean difference for H&N subscale = 4.85, P < .001). The Chinese QOL-RTI/H&N is a reliable and valid tool for determining the QOL in H&N cancer patients receiving radiation therapy. The immediate side effects of treatment had a significantly negative impact on the patients' QOL. The impact was relatively large for the functional and treatment-site aspects.

Fat content of chips, quality of frying fat and deep-frying practices in New Zealand fast food outlets

Objectives: To collect baseline data on the fat content of hot chips, quality (degradation) of cooking fat, deep-frying practices and related attitudes in fast food outlets in New Zealand. To identify the key determinants of the fat content of chips and quality of cooking fat. Methods: A nationally representative sample of fast food outlets (n=150, response rate 80%) was surveyed between September 1998 and March 1999. Data collected included a questionnaire, observation of cooking practices and analysis of cooked chips and frying fat. Results: Only 8% of independent operators had formal training in deep frying practices compared with 93% of chain operators. There was a wide range of fat content of chips (5%-20%, mean 11.5%). The use of thinner chips, crinkle cut chips and lower fryer fat temperature were associated with higher chip fat content. Eighty-nine per cent of chain outlets used 6–10 mm chips compared with 83% of independent outlets that used chips ≥12 mm. A wide range of frying temperatures was recorded (136–233°C) with 58% of outlets frying outside the reference range (175–190°C). As indices of fat degradation, fat acid and polar compound values above the recommended levels occurred in 54% and 5% of outlets respectively. Operators seemed willing to learn more about best practice techniques, with lack of knowledge being the main barrier to change. Conclusions and implications: Deep frying practices could be improved through operator training and certification options. Even a small decrease in the mean fat content of chips would reduce the obesogenic impact of this popular food.

Growth and product quality of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) as affected by dietary protein and lipid sources

A 12-week feeding trial was undertaken to evaluate the effects of partial replacement of marine raw materials in the diet with soybean meal and beef tallow on growth and product quality of European eel (Anguilla anguilla ). Based on growth, feed efficiency and chemical composition, soybean meal was found to be an unsuitable ingredient for eel diets as a substitute for fishmeal (25% on a protein basis), probably because of the low digestibility of its carbohydrate content. However, beef tallow can be used to replace 50% of fish oil without reduction in growth, provided that digestible carbohydrates are present in the diet. No major effects of protein and lipid sources in the diet were found on fillet chemical composition. Sensory analysis revealed no significant differences between fish fed the control and the experimental diets, with the exception of salty taste which was significantly higher in fish fed combined soybean meal and beef tallow compared with fish fed the control diet.

Improving the quality of school evaluations

Purpose – To highlight the challenges and identify options to improve school health evaluations.

Design/methodology/approach – This editorial draws on recent international and national meta-evaluations and the experiences of the author.

Findings – A simple set of questions is needed for discussion between those commissioning evaluations and those conducting them to make school health evaluations more effective and relevant to stakeholders.

Originality/value – The paper identifies important steps which need to be considered in undertaking evaluations of school health interventions.