Biochemical changes and color properties of fresh-cut green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv.gina) treated with calcium chloride during storage

Calcium chloride is widely used in industries as a firming agent, and also to extend shelf-life of vegetables. The aim of this study was to determine, the effect of different doses of calcium chloride on biochemical and color properties of fresh-cut green bean. Fresh-cut green beans were dipped for 90 seconds in 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3% solution of calcium chloride at 25°C. The fresh-cut green bean samples were packaged in polystyrene foam dishes, wrapped with stretch film and stored in a cold room at 5±1°C temperature and 85-90% RH. Calcium chloride treatments did not retain the green color of samples. Whiteness index, browning index and total color difference (ΔE) values of CaCl2 treated samples were high. Saturation index and hue angle were low compared to the control, especially at higher doses of CaCl2. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme activity in samples treated with CaCl2 at 3% doses, was low at the 7th days of storage than with other treatments. Fructose and sucrose content of samples increased in all treatment groups whereas glucose level decreased during the first 4th days of storage.

Creaci??n de una p??gina web con motivo del IV centenario del Quijote

Se presenta memoria final de proyecto educativo que pretende fomentar la lectura y escritura entre el alumnado, a trav??s de la creaci??n de una p??gina web en honor al IV centenario de El Quijote. Se realiza en el IES Auringis en Ja??n. Los objetivos son: incentivar la participaci??n del profesorado en proyectos que superen el ??mbito exclusivo del centro, aprovechando las facilidades que proporcionan al respecto las nuevas tecnolog??as; habilitar foros donde el profesorado puedan compartir experiencias, buscar soluciones a problemas profesionales cotidianos, lanzar ideas; fomentar entre el alumnado el h??bito de lectura por medio del boca a boca, m??todo que, al menos por ahora, consideramos m??s efectivo que el de la imposici??n de lecturas obligatorias; propiciar que el alumnado cuenten la lectura como una posibilidad m??s de entre las que existen para ocupar el tiempo de ocio; luchar contra el prejuicio elitista que gira en torno a lo libresco; fomentar enfoques interdisciplinares del hecho de leer; festejar el IV centenario de la publicaci??n de la primera parte de El Quijote. El proceso consta: reuniones previas a la elaboraci??n del proyecto de innovaci??n; redacci??n del proyecto de innovaci??n; investigaciones tendentes a darle contenido a la p??gina web; encuentros con autores; premios literarios; exposiciones sobre autores y libros; lecturas p??blicas; asistencia a los actos conmemorativos; participaci??n en experiencias de 'Book-crossing'; feria del libro; redacci??n de la memoria de progreso; redacci??n de la memoria final. Los resultados obtenidos: p??gina web, exposiciones, encuentros con autores, premios literarios, feria del libro.

Taller multidisciplinario dirigido a pacientes pediátricos con asma y sus padres, basado en la Guía Internacional para el Manejo del Asma (GINA)

El presente estudio tiene como objetivo mejorar la calidad de vida de pacientes con asma, mediante un taller basado en la Guía Internacional para el Manejo del Asma (GINA). Participó un grupo de 10 pacientes con edades entre 1,5 y 6 años con sus padres; el estudio fue transversal, con un diseño preprueba-posprueba, e incluyó un grupo testigo. El taller multidisciplinario para padres e hijos con asma trató temas de adherencia, tratamiento de sostén y asistencia en crisis; su duración fue de cinco horas.Los resultados muestran mediante el estadístico t de Student que los grupos testigo y experimental en la preprueba son homogéneos; así mismo, en el grupo experimental se comprobó que el cambio entre la pre y posprueba es significativo para los indicadores: visitas no programadas t = 0,000206037, conocimiento de padres t = 0,000727699, crisis t = 0,000135318 y factores de riesgo t = 0,000003192 (para todos los casos p < 0,01).Se analizó también el comportamiento del grupo testigo y se observa que no tiene cambios significativos; en relación con la comparación de la posprueba entre el grupo testigo y el experimental, se aprecian diferencias significativas. Las conclusiones se centran en los beneficios de la intervención multidisciplinaria y la eficiencia del taller basado en la GINA.

La p??gina web La fon??tica del espa??ol : un enfoque interactivo y aut??nomo para el aprendizaje de las pronunciaciones del espa??ol

Resumen basado en el de la publicaci??n

Régina /

Mode of access: Internet.

Der junge Gina; Geschichten.

Mode of access: Internet.

Linoleic acid peroxidation and lignin degradation by enzymes produced by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora grown on wood or in submerged liquid cultures

Ceriporiopsis subvermispora is a white-rot fungus used in biopulping processes and seems to use the fatty acid peroxidation reactions initiated by manganese-peroxidase (MnP) to start lignin degradation. The present work shows that C. subvermispora was able to peroxidize unsaturated fatty acids during wood biotreatment under biopulping conditions. In vitro assays showed that the extent of linoleic acid peroxidation was positively correlated with the level of MnP recovered from the biotreated wood chips. Milled wood was treated in vitro by partially purified MnP and linoleic acid. UV spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) showed that soluble compounds similar to lignin were released from the milled wood. SEC data showed a broad elution profile compatible with low molar mass lignin fractions. MnP-treated milled wood was analyzed by thioacidolysis. The yield of thioacidolysis monomers recovered from guaiacyl and syringyl units decreased by 33% and 20% in MnP-treated milled wood, respectively. This has suggested that lignin depolymerization reactions have occurred during the MnP/linoleic acid treatment. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of memory load and distraction on performance and event-related slow potentials in a visuospatial working memory task

Brain electrical activity related to working memory was recorded at 15 scalp electrodes during a visuospatial delayed response task. Participants (N = 18) touched the remembered position of a target on a computer screen after either a 1 or 8 sec delay. These memory trials were compared to sensory trials in which the target remained present throughout the delay and response periods. Distracter stimuli identical to the target were briefly presented during the delay on 30% of trials. Responses were less accurate in memory than sensory trials, especially after the long delay. During the delay slow potentials developed that were significantly more negative in memory than sensory trials. The difference between memory and sensory trials was greater at anterior than posterior electrodes. On trials with distracters, the slow potentials generated by memory trials showed further enhancement of negativity whereas there were minimal effects on accuracy of performance. The results provide evidence that engagement of visuospatial working memory generates slow wave negativity with a timing and distribution consistent with frontal activation. Enhanced brain activity associated with working memory is required to maintain performance in the presence of distraction. © 1997 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Concussion in contact sports: Reliable change indices of impairment and recovery

This paper reports a follow-up study to an article on the sensitivity of three tests of speed of information processing to impairment after concussion (Hinton-Bayre, Geffen, BL McFarland, 1997). Group analyses showed that practice effects can obscure the effects of concussion on information processing, thereby making the assessment of functional impairment and recovery after injury unreliable. A Reliable Change Index (RCI) was used to assess individual variations following concussion. It was found that 16 of the 20 concussed professional rugby league players were impaired 1-3 days following injury. It was also demonstrated that 7 players still displayed cognitive deficits at 1-2 weeks, before returning to preseason levels at 3-5 weeks. The RCI permits comparisons between different tests, players, and repeated assessments, thereby providing a quantitative basis for decisions regarding return to play.

ERP 'old/new' effects: memory strength and decisional factor(s)

Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while subjects made old/new recognition judgments on new unstudied words and old words which had been presented at study either once ('weak') or three times ('strong'). The probability of an 'old' response was significantly higher for strong than weak words and significantly higher for weak than new words. Comparisons were made initially between ERPs to new, weak and strong words, and subsequently between ERPs associated with six strength-by-response conditions. The N400 component was found to be modulated by memory trace strength in a graded manner. Its amplitude was most negative in new word ERPs and most positive in strong word ERPs. This 'N400 strength effect' was largest at the left parietal electrode (in ear-referenced ERPs). The amplitude of the late positive complex (LPC) effect was sensitive to decision accuracy (and perhaps confidence). Its amplitude was larger in ERPs evoked by words attracting correct versus incorrect recognition decisions. The LPC effect had a left > right, centro-parietal scalp topography (in ear-referenced ERPs). Hence, whereas, the majority of previous ERP studies of episodic recognition have interpreted results from the perspective of dual-process models, we provide alternative interpretations of N400 and LPC old/new effects in terms of memory strength and decisional factor(s). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exhaled nitric oxide for monitoring childhood asthma inflammation compared to sputum analysis, serum interleukins and pulmonary function

The level of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is significantly elevated in uncontrolled asthma and decreases after anti-inflammatory therapy The aim of this prospective study was to analyze the behavior of FENO in the follow-up and management of the inflammation in asthmatic pediatric patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), compared to sputum cellularity, serum interleukins (IL), and pulmonary function. Twenty-six clinically stable asthmatic children aged from 6 to 18 years, previously treated or not with ICS were included. Following an international consensus (GINA), the patients were submitted to standard treatment with inhaled fluticasone for 3 months according to the severity of the disease. During this period, each patient underwent three assessments at intervals of approximately 6 weeks: Each evaluation consisted of the measurement of FENO, determination of serum interleukins IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and interferon gamma (INF-gamma), spirometry and cytological analysis of spontaneous or induced sputum. A significant reduction in mean FENO and IL-5, without concomitant changes in FEV1, was observed along the study. There was no significant correlation between FeNO and FEV1 in the three assessments. A significant correlation between FeNO and IL-5 levels was only observed in the third assessment (r = 0.499, P=0.025). In most patients, serum IL-10, IL-13, and INF-gamma concentrations were undetectable throughout the study Sputum samples were obtained spontaneously in 11 occasions and in 56 by induction with 3% hypertonic saline solution (success rate: 50.8%), with 39 (69.9%) of them adequate for analysis. Only two of the 26 patients produced adequate samples in the three consecutive evaluations, which impaired the determination of a potential association between sputum cellularity and FeNO levels throughout the study. In conclusion, among the parameters of this study, it was difficult to perform and to interpret the serial analysis of spontaneous or induced sputum. Serum interleukins, which remained at very low or undetectable levels in most patients, were not found to be useful for therapeutic monitoring, except for IL-5 that seems to present some correlation with levels of FeNO exhaled. Monitoring of the mean FEV1 indicated no significant variations during the treatment, demonstrating that functional stability or the absence of obstruction may not reflect the adequate management of asthma. Serial measurement of FeNO seemed to best reflect the progressive anti-inflammatory action of ICS in asthma.