Low-temperature blanching of vegetables activates the enzyme pectin methylesterase (PME), which demethylates cell wall pectins and improves tissue firmness. This temperature activation of PME has been investigated by measuring the formation of methanol in intact tissue of green beans and tomatoes. Rates of methanol formation at temperatures of 35-65 degrees C were obtained by measuring the rele...

The effect of soaking and roasting velvet beans (Mucuna pruriens) on nitrogen utilization and rumen microbial protein synthesis in goats was investigated. Sixteen goats were randomly assigned to four diets in a completely randomized design. Goats were fed a basal diet of Cynodon dactylon hay plus 30% soaked (treatment 1), 30% roasted (treatment 2) and 30% untreated velvet bean (treatment 3). Th...

Opening of the stomata is driven by the light-activated plasma membrane proton pumping ATPase, although the activation and inactivation mechanism of the enzyme is not known. In this study, we show that the H+-ATPase in guard cells is reversibly inhibited by Ca2+ at physiological concentrations. Isolated microsomal membranes of guard cell protoplasts from fava bean exhibited vanadate-sensitive, ...

A. Castellano, L. Bello, P. Scifo, E. Fava, G. Carrabba, G. Bertani, G. Scotti, and A. Falini Neuroradiology Unit and CERMAC, Scientific Institute and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, MI, Italy, Institute of Radiological Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, MI, Italy, Neurosurgery, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, MI, Italy, Nuclear Medicine Departm...

In a broad sense, the name coffee is used not only for fruits of the coffee tree (cherry coffee), but also for processed fruit such as green (raw) coffee, roasted coffee, instant coffee, and coffee as a beverage. The grading and quality evaluation of coffee beans is based on uniformity, purity, the absence of damaged beans, and decisively on the organoleptic properties of the beverage prepared ...

A nutrition study was conducted to evaluate the growth response of weaned piglets fed diets containing soya beans that had been processed into protein supplements at two different levels of dry matter (DM) and temperature. Four diets contained protein supplements prepared from whole full-fat soya beans equilibrated at 800 or 900 g kgÿ1 DM prior to being heated to 110 or 1258C. An additional die...

BACKGROUND Our objective was to compare the capacities of biofortified and standard colored beans to deliver iron (Fe) for hemoglobin synthesis. Two isolines of large-seeded, red mottled Andean beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), one standard ("Low Fe") and the other biofortified ("High Fe") in Fe (49 and 71 μg Fe/g, respectively) were used. This commercial class of red mottled beans is the preferre...

OBJECTIVE To determine fluoride concentrations in the typical Brazilian meal (rice with beans) and in processed infant foods, and to estimate their contribution towards dental fluorosis. METHODS The foods were purchased at supermarkets in the cities of Piracicaba and Campinas, Southeastern Brazil. The processed infant foods were bought in 2001 and the rice and beans in 2003, and they were ana...

Levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were determined in dried cocoa beans obtained from cocoa produce stores at Ondo and Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria. Cocoa beans samples were sun dried to a constant weight, pulverized and soxhlet extracted with dichloromethane to obtain the OCPs. Qualitative identification and quantitative evaluation of the extracted OCPs after clean-up on silica gel we...