Intermittent drying of bioproducts--an overview

Unlike the conventional practice of supplying energy for batch drying processes at a constant rate, newly developed intermittent drying processes employ time-varying heat input tailored to match the drying kinetics of the material being dried. The energy required may be supplied by combining different modes of heat transfer (e.g. convection coupled with conduction or radiation or dielectric heating simultaneously or in a pre-selected sequence) in a time-varying fashion so as to provide optimal drying kinetics as well as quality of the bioproduct. This is especially important for drying of heat-sensitive materials (such as foods, pharmaceutical, neutraceutical substances, herbs, spices and herbal medicines). Intermittent heat supply is beneficial only for materials which dry primarily in the falling rate period where internal diffusion of heat and moisture controls the overall drying rate. Periods when little or no heat is supplied for drying allow the tempering period needed for the moisture and heat to diffuse within the material. As the moisture content increases at the surface of the biomaterial during the tempering period, the rate of drying is higher when heat input is resumed. It is possible to control the heat input such that the surface temperature of the product does not exceed a pre-determined value beyond which thermal damage of the material may occur. This process results in reduction in the use of thermal energy as well as the mass of air used in convective drying. Thus, the thermal efficiency of such a process is higher. The quality of the product, as such color and ascorbic acid content, is also typically superior to that obtained with a continuous supply of heat. However, in some cases, there will be a nominal increase in drying time. In the case of microwave-assisted and heat pump drying, for example, the capital cost of the drying system can also be reduced by drying in the intermittent mode.

This paper provides an overview of the basic process, selected results from experiments and mathematical models for a variety of biomaterials dried in a wide assortment of dryers. It begins with a classification of intermittent drying processes that may be applied e.g. time-varying temperature, air flow rate, operating pressure as well as heat input by different modes and in different temporal variations. The beneficial effects of improving the quality of dried bioproducts by different intermittent processes are also included and discussed.     

Association between dental health behaviours, mental/physical function and self-feeding ability among the elderly: a cross-sectional survey

Objectives : The aim of this study was to determine the association between dental health behaviour, mental/physical function and self‐feeding ability among the elderly. Subjects : A total of 414 elderly dental patients aged 65 years and older participated in this study. Methods : A survey was carried out for three years and seven months starting in January 1998 at the Chubu National Hospital. The patients or their carers were examined/interviewed about the severity of senile dementia, dental health behaviour, ability to rinse their mouths, ability to manage dentures, and ability to sit at a table during meals. To assess the association with self‐feeding ability among the elderly, cut‐offs were given for these variables, and then the odds ratios were calculated. Results : The strongest association to self‐feeding ability was marked by inability to rinse their own mouth, followed by inability to manage dentures, inability to sit at a table during meals, severe senile dementia and less frequency of toothbrushing. Conclusion : Elderly who have lost the feeding ability often could not maintain their dental health by themselves. Carers must provide not only a feeding service with acknowledgement of aspiration but oral care to prevent dental disease and fatal pneumonia in the elderly.     

白洋淀轮虫多样性及群落结构的初步研究

于2006年12月、2007年3～5月调查了白洋淀9个采样点的轮虫种类组成、数量及优势种,并对轮虫群落的多样性指数和群落相似性系数进行了测算,综合评价了白洋淀水质及富营养化状况.本次共发现轮虫41种,平均丰度为607～5024 ind./L,优势种为蒲达臂尾轮虫Brachionus budapesllensis、长肢多肢轮虫Polyarthra doli-choptera、角突臂尾轮虫B.angularis、矩形龟甲轮虫Keratella quadrata等,均为耐污性种类,各样点轮虫群落具较高相似性.从轮虫群落Margalef多样性指数看,白洋淀水质属中度污染和严重污染状况.     

Algal epilithon and water quality of a stream receiving oil refinery effluent

Changes in epilithic algal communities colonizing introduced substrata were determined in a stream polluted with oil refinery effluent at Digboi (Assam, India). The number of algal taxa was reduced but the growth of blue-green algae, particularly two species ofOscillatoria, was encouraged. Epilithic biomass (as chlorophylla) also declined at polluted stations. The algal community of the upstream station was markedly different from the community occurring just after the confluence of effluent; however, the differences were gradually reduced downstream, indicating improvement in water quality. Of the various criteria tested for possible relationships with the level of pollutants, species richness, Shannon diversity and biomass showed significant relationships. The study demonstrates the usefulness of algal criteria for monitoring oil pollution in running waters.     

杉木与固氮和非固氮树种混交对林地土壤质量和土壤水化学的影响

第 1代人工杉木林皆伐后 ,3种不同的经营模式 ,即连载杉木纯林、杉木与固 N阔叶树混交林和杉木与非固 N阔叶树混交林 ,对林地土壤质量和土壤水化学的影响进行了比较。结果表明 ,在杉树与阔叶树混交经营模式下 ,土壤养分含量增加 ,物理性状改善 ,土壤生物活性提高 ,微生物商 (Cmic:Corg)上升 ,代谢商 (q CO2 )稍有下降 ,但杉木与固 N树种的混交对土壤质量的改善效果比杉木与非固 N树种混交好 ;相反 ,杉木连载只能导致林地土壤质量的逐渐恶化 ;土壤溶液中 ,主要来自于大气中的一些离子浓度 ,如 SO2 - 4,Cl- ,Na 和 Mg2 ,在杉木纯林中显著高于混交林 ,而主要受系统内影响较大的一些离子 ,如 K 和NH 4,NO- 3,在经营模式间变异较小 ;H 和 Al3 浓度也是杉木纯林比混交林高。另外 ,研究结果还表明 ,总有机 C、CEC和微生物 C与其它土壤理化性质与生物学性质之间存在着较好的相关性 ,所以可以将总有机 C、CEC和微生物 C作为红黄壤地区亚热带人工林土壤质量的指示指标     

作物淀粉生物合成与转基因修饰研究进展

淀粉是高等植物中碳水化合物的主要贮藏形式 ,也是粮食作物产品的最主要成分。淀粉虽然都由直链淀粉和枝链淀粉组成 ,但在不同作物中两者的比例和枝链淀粉结构的存在很大差异。现已明确 ,直链淀粉是在颗粒结合淀粉合成酶 (granule boundstarchsynthase,GBSS)催化下合成的 ,而枝链淀粉是四种酶共同作用的结果 ,它们分别是腺嘌呤 -葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶 (ADP glucosepyrophosphorylase ,AGP) ,可溶性淀粉合成酶 (solublestarchsynthase ,SSS) ,淀粉分枝酶 (starchbranchingenzyme ,SBE)和脱分枝酶 (starchdebranchingenzyme ,DBE)。一方面 ,在不同作物中 ,这些酶本身存在多种形式 ,如在玉米胚乳中 ,AGP有大亚基和小亚基之分 ,SBE又可分BE1,BEIIa ,BEIIb 3种 ,SSS也可分为SSI和SSIII(或SSIIa)两种 ,而DBE也有异淀粉酶 (isoamylase)和限制性糊精酶 (pullu lanase)两种。另一方面 ,控制特定酶的基因 ,在不同作物甚至在同一种作物的不同品种中也可能存在不同的复等位基因 ,如籼稻和粳稻的GBSS分别由蜡质基因Wxa 和Wxb 控制 ,两者编码的GBSS活性差异显著。此外 ,环境条件也可通过影响基因的转录使酶的含量或催化性能发生变化。迄今 ,国内外已获得多种马铃薯和水稻的转基因材料 ,对淀粉合成进行修饰 ,试图培育优质品     

Effect of latitude on flavonoid biosynthesis in plants

The growth conditions in different latitudes vary markedly with season, day length, light quality and temperature. Many plant species have adapted well to the distinct environments through different strategies, one of which is the production of additional secondary metabolites. Flavonoids are a widely spread group of plant secondary metabolites that are involved in many crucial functions of plants. Our understanding of the biosynthesis, occurrence and function of flavonoids has increased rapidly in recent decades. Numerous studies have been published on the influence of environmental factors on the biosynthesis of flavonoids. However, extensive long‐term studies that examine the effect of the characteristics of northern climates on flavonoid biosynthesis are still scarce. This review focuses on the current knowledge about the effect of light intensity, photoperiod and temperature on the gene–environment interaction related to flavonoid biosynthesis in plants.     

Fixed effect genetic analysis of a diallel cross in dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary A full diallel cross among four diverse homozygous strains of dry edible beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was evaluated for yield, protein content, and culinary quality traits in the F₂ and F₃ generations in two locations. Interpretation of diallel effects [Method 1 Model I] using a fixed-effect genetic model made it possible to combine data from two generations into a single analysis and quantify the relative contributions of additive and dominance genetic effects to general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities. GCA was found to arise from three potential sources: additive effects, dominance interactions at homozygous loci, and average dominance interactions in hybrids involving the parent in question. SCA was found to be a function solely of dominance. Additive effects were the primary determinant of GCA and were highly significant. Specific dominance interactions were significant for seed yield, cooked bean moisture content, and texture but not for protein content. Texture was the only trait for which the additive-dominance model failed to provide an adequate fit to the data, suggesting that texture is significantly affected by epistatic interaction. One cross (Brazil-2 × Sanilac) was identified that exhibited a large heterotic effect for seed yield although the parents' additive effects were nonsignificant. Such a nicking effect was attributed to complementation between the two parents.Cooperative investigations of the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. Part of a thesis submitted by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree at Michigan State University. Approved for publication by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article No. 11791. Research supported by USAID under a Title XII Bean/Cowpea CRSP and cooperative with Washington State University, Pullman, WA99164     

粳稻穗角与稻米品质的相关性及稻米品质遗传分析

测定了粳稻直立穗品种丙8979与弯曲穗品种C堡杂交组合的P1、P2及其重组自交系349个株系的穗角和10个稻米品质性状, 分析了穗角与稻米品质性状之间的相关性, 并运用主基因+多基因混合遗传模型, 对稻米品质10个性状进行了遗传分析。结果表明,穗角与糙米率、整精米率、垩白粒率、垩白度、糊化温度、胶稠度和直链淀粉含量均无显著相关; 与精米率呈显著正相关(r=0.124*); 与粒长和长宽比均呈极显著正相关(相关系数分别为0.470**和0.241**)。糙米率、精米率和直链淀粉含量均受2对主基因+多基因控制, 2对主基因具有累加作用和加性×加性的上位性作用; 整精米率、粒长、长宽比和胶稠度受2对加性-上位性主基因+多基因控制;垩白粒率、垩白度和糊化温度均受3对加性-上位性主基因+多基因控制。糙米率、精米率、整精米率、垩白粒率、垩白度和糊化温度6个品质性状以主基因遗传为主,粒长、长宽比、胶稠度和直链淀粉含量4个性状以多基因遗传为主。     

烯效唑干拌种对小麦氮素积累和运转及籽粒蛋白质品质的影响

通过田间试验,研究了不同烯效唑干拌种剂量对3个不同筋力小麦品种植株氮素积累、运转和籽粒蛋白质品质的影响,结果表明,基因型、环境及烯效唑处理对小麦品质的影响效应依次减小,且均达到了极显著水平,但三者的互作效应较小。烯效唑处理后提高了不同生态点下不同小麦品种籽粒蛋白质含量和产量,处理后的面筋含量和沉淀值增加,面团形成时间和稳定时间延长;干拌种增加了开花期各营养器官中的氮素含量和单株氮素积累量,花后氮素总转移量、总转移率及其对籽粒氮的贡献率极显著提高,且处理后旗叶中可溶性蛋白质含量在花后15 d内均显著高于对照;对籽粒中氮含量而言,烯效唑处理后提高了灌浆初期籽粒中的非蛋白氮含量,花后5—20 d内均高于对照,灌浆期间籽粒蛋白氮含量均高于对照,因而处理后的粗蛋白质含量变化动态特点为谷底高、回升快。研究认为,烯效唑处理如同基因、环境一样独立影响小麦籽粒品质,而烯效唑处理后提高了开花初期旗叶中的可溶性蛋白质含量和花前营养器官中氮素含量及花后氮素转运量,可能是其提高籽粒非蛋白氮含量、促进籽粒蛋白质含量增加和蛋白质质量提高的重要原因之一,烯效唑干拌种对小麦籽粒蛋白质品质的改善具有广适性。