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Carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) is a transcription factor that mediates glucose signaling in mammalian liver, leading to the expression of different glycolytic and lipogenic genes, such as pyruvate kinase (L-PK) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). The current model for ChREBP activation in response to sugar phosphates holds that glucose metabolization to xylulose 5-phosphate (X-5-P) triggers the activation of protein phosphatase 2A, which dephosphorylates ChREBP and leads to its nuclear translocation and activation. However, evidence indicates that glucose 6-phosphate (G-6-P) is the most likely signal metabolite for the glucose-induced transcription of these genes. The glucose derivative that is responsible for carbohydrate-dependent gene expression remains to be identified. The difficulties in measuring G-6-P and X-5-P concentrations simultaneously and in changing them independently have hindered such identification. To discriminate between these possibilities, we adapted a liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method to identify and quantify sugar phosphates in human hepatocarcinoma cells (Hep G2) and rat hepatocytes in response to different carbon sources and in the presence/absence of a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor. We also used this method to demonstrate that these cells could not metabolize 2-deoxyglucose beyond 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate. The simultaneous quantification of sugar phosphates and FAS and L-PK expression levels demonstrated that both X-5-P and G-6-P play a role in the modulation of gene expression. In conclusion, this report presents for the first time a single mechanism that incorporates the effects of X-5-P and G-6-P on the enhancement of the expression of carbohydrate-responsive genes. © 2012 the American Physiological Society. ; This study was supported by the projects SAF2009-12602 and SAF2011-25726 and by RD06/0020/0046 and RD06/0014/0025 from Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Cáncer and Red de Centros FIS-RECAVA, respectively, from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, both funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-Spanish government and European Regional Development Funds "Una manera de hacer Europa." It has also received financial support from the European Union-funded project ETHERPATHS (FP7-KBBE-222639) (http://www.etherpaths.org/) and from the Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca-Generalitat de Catalunya (2009SGR01308, 2006ITT-10007, and 2009CTP-00026). ; Peer Reviewed

Data were collected on the seven day weighed food intakes of 65 schoolchildren, aged 12-13 years, living in an inner city, socially deprived area in east London. Blood samples were collected during the week and analysed for cholesterol, serum ferritin, vitamins A, E, B-12, beta carotene, and folic acid. Boys generally fared better than girls with almost a quarter of the girls having intakes of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, and riboflavin less than the lower reference nutrient intake, an amount which, by definition, is enough for only the few people in a group who have low needs. Although the mean energy intake was close to the estimated average requirement for both boys and girls, 74% did not meet the recommended intake for fibre and a high proportion of children consumed more than 11% of their energy from saturated fat (85%) and added sugar (88%). Thirty seven per cent of the children ate no fresh fruit during the week they kept a diary and only 19% had vegetables (fresh or frozen), other than potatoes, on a daily basis. Their main sources of energy were chips, bread, and confectionery. No association was found between fat intakes and plasma cholesterol concentrations. Girls had significantly lower blood concentrations of folic acid, ferritin, and beta carotene. The findings of this study confirm the anxieties often expressed that many schoolchildren, particularly in less affluent areas, are eating diets which are unhealthy according to government recommendations.

In order to get wines of excellence, rigorous quality control are required during every step of the production. Continuous analysis for parameters such as grape maturation, alcohol content, density, pH, total acidity or volatile acidity are required to ensure wine quality. Moreover, some of these analysis are also required to reach the characteristics requested by the client and to fulfil current legislation (1).Jose and Miguel Martin S.L. is a wine company located in Bollullos Par Del Condado, Huelva. It is dedicated to the production and aging of wines and their derivatives, as well as to the manufacture of oak barrels. To ensure the quality of their wines, this company have a full equipped laboratory where we have been analysing the evolution of grape, must and wine. Initially, a grape maturation control was carried out to determine the optimum stage for grape harvesting. Once in the wine cellar, sugar must density as well as SO2 content was measured every day for many samples. Later, during fermentation, sugar density and yeast population (2), was analysed for every fermenter and for finished wines alcohol content, total and volatile acidity and heat and tartaric stability was also controlled. With these data, wine corrections were done to get the final desired characteristics for the wines (1, 3). Furthermore, a study to determine the effect of fermentation temperature on the organoleptic characteristics of wine was performed. A drop in temperature along fermentation, known as thermal inversion, was applied. With this, concentration for varietal thiol compounds (Ac3MH), as well as for other fermentative esters should been modified (4, 5). Thus, temperature-controlled fermenters were used to study the differences in the resulting wines produced with Zalema grape must. To this, one of the fermenter was kept at a constant temperature of 18 degrees during the whole fermentation, while in the other the temperature was lowered to 14 degrees, 4 days after the yeast fermentation started, remaining constant until the end of this process. Full analysis of chemical parameters was performed to the initial must before fermentation, to the wine when fermentation was completed, and later after wine clarification. Stability tests, both for protein and tartaric acid, was also assayed. Once the wine were stabilized and clarified, they have been stored and a final tasting will be carried out, to compare the organoleptic characteristics of both wines. The wine produced by thermal inversion should present an intermediate aromatic profile, with noticeable concentrations of varietal thiols (Ac3MH) and fermentative esters, while the wine produced by fermentation at 18ºC should present a predominance of varietal thiols (4, 5)

Food products from honeybees are commonly used in Africa as in other parts of the world. The composition of bee related food is important for consumers but also to illustrate the feeding quality for the bees. The present study was aimed at assessing the quality of bee bread and honeys for the survival of A. mellifera adansonii, L. 1758 in the DRC. Several environments were selected, namely a rainforest in Kisangani, a savannah in Kavwaya and a restored forest in Mampu. Bee breads were assessed according to their richness in proteins and essential amino acids. Honeys were evaluated considering the water content, the sugar rates, the amount of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde (HMF), the acidity (pH) and conductivity. The average content of protein from pollens collected in the DRC was 14.11 ± 5.27%. The protein content was low compared with the food needs of bees (and to the European breeds). No significant difference was observed between Kisangani, Mampu and Kavwaya in terms of protein content of beebread (P ≥ 0.05). The concentrations of ten essential amino acids for bees were within the optimum range of food needs for honeybees (set for European bee races). Beebreads collected in the rainforest of Kisangani were significantly richer in isoleucine, leucine, valine, arginine, lysine and phenylalanine than those from the savannah of Kavwaya. However, beebreads harvested in Kisangani were not significantly different from those from the replanted Mampu forest. The analysis of honey samples revealed that the Congolese honeys had good nutritional quality for bees. Indeed, reducing sugar content of the collected samples ranged from 63.40 to 73.80%, the content of sucrose ranged from 0.30 to 1.90%, the content of water varied from 16.80 to 22.00%, the pH of the analyzed honey samples ranged from 4.22 to 4.53. The average of the electrical conductivity was 47.74 ± 13.93 μS/cm and the concentration of HMF varied from 1.75 to 31.38 mg HMF/kg of honey. The honeys collected in the rainforest of Kisangani were significantly richer in minerals and moisture than those from the savannah of Kavwaya (P <0.05). However, the honeys collected in the last savannah were richer in sucrose and HMF than those collected in the Kisangani rainforest and the restored forest of Mampu (P <0.05). These results would only be applied for the time at which the samples were collected (January-February) but are an interesting data set for further use of bee related product in DRC.Keywords: Apis mellifera adansonii, honey, bee bread, quality, nutrition, bee ecology, DRC.

There have recently been a number of studies concerned with the equality of wealth distribution in the nineteenth-century U.S. Collectively, these studies have arrived at the following conclusions: 1) the distribution of wealth was much more unequal in the South than in the North; 2) both the North and South were characterized by a high degree of inequality. Gavin Wright analyzed the degree of concentration in several measures of agricultural wealth (improved acreage, farm value, slaves, and cotton output) in the "cotton South" in 1850 and 1860; he found no evidence to reject the traditional view that antebellum southern agriculture was characterized by a highly unequal wealth distribution. Wright was careful to point out, however, that his conclusions only held for the "cotton South" and might not hold for the rest of the slave region. In this paper, I have calculated the degree of inequality in the distribution of slave wealth in five major agricultural regions (cotton, grain, tobacco, sugar, and rice) in the South in 1860, and I have found no evidence that the wealth distribution in the cotton region was substantially different from that in other southern agricultural regions.

Six samples of honey from two states in Nigeria, Cross River and Oyo were investigated. (Igoli in Ogoja, farm bred and wild species from Obudu, Agoi Ibami, Eruwa and Iseyin) were analysed for their sugar components, Hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), free acidity and electrical conductivity. Honey is composed of various sugars but the dominant sugars are two monosaccharide, fructose and glucose which are also reducing sugars. Honey is used for various purposes including medicinal, cosmetics, in the food industry, bakery and confectionary. The sugar contents were analysed using the HPLC with refractive Index (RI). The European Commission procedures were used to analyse HMF and electrical conductivity, while free acidity was analysed by AOAC methods (1999). The results of the analysis showed that although fructose and glucose were predominant in all the samples, only two samples, Igoli in Ogoja and Obudu farm bred met the Codex Alimentarius standard for fructose and glucose at 60g/100g. Fructose values (g/100g) reported for Igoli in Ogoja, Obudu farm, Agoi Ibami, Obudu wild, Eruwa and Iseyin were 34.92 ± 0.12, 36.45 ± 0.14, 30.50 ± 0.06, 28.45 ± 0.09, 33.40 ± 0.17, and 30.45 ± 0.09 respectively. Sucrose in all the honey samples met the Codex Alimentarius standard of < 5g/100g limit. Fructose/glucose ratio for all the samples was greater than 1 which indicated slower crystallization of all the honey samples. Values of free acidity ranged from 11.57 ± 0.07 to 18.60 ± 0.10meq/kg, which were lower than the 50meq/kg limit set by the Council of the European Union showing the absence of undesirable fermentation. HMF concentration in the samples all met the International optimum value of 40mg/kg reported by European Union and 80mg/kg for honey from the tropics. Electrical conductivity of the samples varied from 0.41 ± 0.01 to 0.63 ± 0.00mS/cm. The results showed that the honey samples sold locally in Nigeria meet the required international standards for honey.

Six samples of honey from two states in Nigeria, Cross River and Oyo were investigated. (Igoli in Ogoja, farm bred and wild species from Obudu, Agoi Ibami, Eruwa and Iseyin) were analysed for their sugar components, Hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), free acidity and electrical conductivity. Honey is composed of various sugars but the dominant sugars are two monosaccharide, fructose and glucose which are also reducing sugars. Honey is used for various purposes including medicinal, cosmetics, in the food industry, bakery and confectionary. The sugar contents were analysed using the HPLC with refractive Index (RI). The European Commission procedures were used to analyse HMF and electrical conductivity, while free acidity was analysed by AOAC methods (1999). The results of the analysis showed that although fructose and glucose were predominant in all the samples, only two samples, Igoli in Ogoja and Obudu farm bred met the Codex Alimentarius standard for fructose and glucose at 60g/100g. Fructose values (g/100g) reported for Igoli in Ogoja, Obudu farm, Agoi Ibami, Obudu wild, Eruwa and Iseyin were 34.92 ± 0.12, 36.45 ± 0.14, 30.50 ± 0.06, 28.45 ± 0.09, 33.40 ± 0.17, and 30.45 ± 0.09 respectively. Sucrose in all the honey samples met the Codex Alimentarius standard of < 5g/100g limit. Fructose/glucose ratio for all the samples was greater than 1 which indicated slower crystallization of all the honey samples. Values of free acidity ranged from 11.57 ± 0.07 to 18.60 ± 0.10meq/kg, which were lower than the 50meq/kg limit set by the Council of the European Union showing the absence of undesirable fermentation. HMF concentration in the samples all met the International optimum value of 40mg/kg reported by European Union and 80mg/kg for honey from the tropics. Electrical conductivity of the samples varied from 0.41 ± 0.01 to 0.63 ± 0.00mS/cm. The results showed that the honey samples sold locally in Nigeria meet the required international standards for honey.Read Complete Article at ijSciences: V62017081410 AND DOI: ...

AbstractRaising soil contamination with cadmium (Cd2+) and salinization necessitates the development of green approaches using bio-elicitors to ensure sustainable crop production and mitigate the detrimental health impacts. Two field trials were carried out to study the individual and combined effects of foliage spraying of Moringa leaf extract (MLE) and soil application of effective microorganisms (EMs) on the physio-biochemical, osmolytes, antioxidants, and performance of sweet potato grown in Cd2+-contaminated salty soil (Cd2+  = 17.42 mg kg−1 soil and soil salinity ECe = 7.42 dS m−1). Application of MLE, EMs, or MLE plus EMs significantly reduced the accumulation of Cd2+ in roots by 55.6%, 50.0%, or 68.1% and in leaves by 31.4%, 27.6%, or 38.0%, respectively, compared to the control. Co-application of MLE and EMs reduced Na+ concentration while substantially raising N, P, K+, and Ca2+ acquisition in the leaves. MLE and EMs-treated plants exhibited higher concentrations of total soluble sugar by 69.6%, free proline by 47.7%, total free amino acids by 29.0%, and protein by 125.7% compared to the control. The enzymatic (SOD, APX, GR, and CAT) and non-enzymatic (phenolic acids, GSH, and AsA) antioxidants increased in plants treated with MLE and/or EMs application. Applying MLE and/or EMs increased the leaf photosynthetic pigment contents, membrane stability, relative water content, water productivity, growth traits, and tuber yield of Cd2+ and salt-stressed sweet potato. Consequently, the integrative application of MLE and EMs achieved the best results exceeding the single treatments recommended in future application to sweet potato in saline soil contaminated with Cd2+.

Cover -- Half Title -- About the Book and Author -- Title -- Dedication -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of Tables -- List of figures -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- 1 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW: FROM THE TREATY OF ROME TO LOME -- Association Under the Treaty of Rome -- The Yaounde Conventions -- The First Yaounde Convention -- The Second Yaounde Convention -- Trade Agreements with Other Less Developed Areas -- Agreements with Commonwealth African States -- Economic Analysis of the Yaounde Agreements -- Analysis of EEC-LDC Trade During the Yaounde Period -- The European Development Fund (EDF)Under the Yaounde Convention -- Structure of the European Development Fund -- Sectorial Allocation and Distribution of the EDF -- EDF Assistance to Associated African Countries -- Formation of the Lome Conventions -- Events Leading to the Lome Conventions -- The Lome Conventions -- References -- 2 ACP-EEC TRADE RELATIONS UNDER LOME I -- The Lome Trade Provisions -- Trade Provisions of Lome I -- Trade Related Changes Under Lome II -- Significance of the Lome Trade Provisions -- Statistical Analysis of Trade Patterns -- ACP Trade With World -- ACP Trade with the EEC -- ACP Trade with the Original Six EEC Countries (EEC 6) -- ACP Trade with the U. K. -- ACP Trade with Denmark and Ireland -- ACP Trade with the United States -- ACP Balance of Trade with the U.S. and the EEC -- Commodity Composition and Concentration -- ACP Share of the EEC Market, Commodity Concentration and Composition -- ACP Commodity Market Shares -- ACP Deterioration in Market Shares -- The Sugar Accord -- References -- 3 EDF/EIB ACTIVITIES UNDER THE LOME CONVENTIONS -- Amount, Types and Administration of Aid -- Lome II versus Lome I: A mount of Aid -- Administrative Issues -- Aid by Sector with Special Reference to Energy and Mining -- Sectorial Priorities under Lome II -- Energy and Mining.

A pot study was performed under greenhouse condition to check the possibility that using Trichoderma harzianum could improve the growth, production and quality of watermelon genotype. Plant growth medium inoculated with T. harzianum at 1 × 104 cfu, 1.25 × 104 cfu and 1.50 × 104 cfu respectively, while un-inoculated with fungi used as control treatment. Plant growth medium inoculated with higher concentration (1.50 × 104 cfu) of T. harzianum significantly increased plant root and shoot length and brings early flowering. The higher values of plant fresh and dry weight, leaf area, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, net photosynthesis rate and number of fruit per plant of watermelon was obtained with 1.50 × 104 cfu. However, T. harzianum levels of 1.50 × 104 cfu and 1.25 x 104 cfu produced statistically similar results for carbohydrate content, total soluble solids, vitamin A content and ?-carotene of watermelon. It was observed that plant grown in growth medium inoculated with T. harzianum has direct relation with growth and quality of watermelon. Compared to all tested levels, the higher level of T. harzianum 1.5 × 104 cfu is the most effective in improving growth, yield and quality of watermelon genotype (cv. Sugar baby).

High-carbohydrate (HC) diets and low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets (LCKD) are consumed by athletes for body composition and performance benefits. Little research has examined nutrient density of self-selected HC or LCKDs and consequent effect on blood haematology in an athlete population. Using a non-randomised control intervention trial, nutrient density over 3 days, total blood count and serum ferritin, within endurance athletes following a self-selected HC (n = 11) or LCKD (n = 9) over 12 weeks, was examined. At week 12, HC diet participants had greater intakes of carbohydrate, fibre, sugar, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese and thiamine, with higher glycaemic load (GL), compared to LCKD participants (P < 0.05). LCKD participants had greater intakes of saturated fat, protein, a higher omega 3:6 ratio, selenium, vitamins A, D, E, K1, B12, B2, pantothenic acid and biotin. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) decreased in LCKD participants after 12 weeks but remained unchanged in HC participants, with no change in serum ferritin in either group. This analysis cannot examine nutrient deficiency, but athletes should be made aware of the importance of changes in dietary type on micronutrient intakes and blood haematology, especially where performance is to be considered.

In this work, an advanced approach combining small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments, rheology and confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to explain the different emulsification mechanisms of three pectin sources (pectin extracted from watermelon rind -WRP- and commercial citrus -CP- and apple pectin -AP). Very interestingly, three different emulsification mechanisms were identified, related to the structure and composition of the pectin extracts. WRP had significantly greater emulsifying capacity than commercial CP and AP. This enhanced emulsification ability was mainly ascribed to a combination of its relatively high protein content (mainly acting as the surface-active material), combined with the presence of longer sugar side chains in pectin, further contributing to stabilizing the oil droplets in the emulsions. All these structural features resulted in a reduction in the mean droplet size as the concentration increased, thus, hindering flocculation and coalescence during the short-term storage conditions at 4 °C. In contrast, AP had the lowest emulsification capacity, which was only related to its viscosifying effect (provided by its greater Mw), while CP, having the greatest homogalacturonan content, greatest linearity and a more balanced hydrophilic/hydrophobic character (reflected in the degree of esterification), was able to form a better adsorbed layer at the o/w interphase, although it could not avoid flocculation and creaming at low pectin concentration during refrigerated storage. ; This work was funded by the grant RTI-2018-094268-B-C22 (MCI/AEI/FEDER, EU). Mendez D. A. is supported by the Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (Colciencias) of the Colombian Government (783–2017). M. J. Fabra and A. Martinez-Abad are recipients of Ramon y Cajal (RYC-2014-158) and Juan de la Cierva (IJDC-2017-31255), respectively, from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. ; Peer reviewed

Trace metals, tropical estuary, Hainan, Brazil. - This work investigated the concentrations, the distributions and the behaviors of five trace metals (nickel, cobalt, copper, cadmium and lead) plus iron in the aqueous and in the particulate phase in two tropical estuarine systems of China and Brazil, and estimated their contamination levels. The field work was carried out in the Wanquan Estuary and in the Wenchang-Wenjiao Estuary of the Southern Chinese island of Hainan as well as in the Mundaú Lagoon and in the Manguaba Lagoon of Northeast-Brazil, which are all characterised by relatively low contents of dissolved humics and DOC. The surface water samples were seperated into the dissolved ( 0.45 µm) phase by conventional filtration followed by a further separation of the dissolved phase into two colloidal fractions (HMW "high molecular weight : 10 kDa - 0.45 µm; LMW "low molecular weight : 5 kDa - 10 kDa) and a fraction (TD: < 5 kDa) considered as "truly dissolved" fraction. The levels of these trace metals with high contamination riscs is generally higher in East-Hainan than in Northeast-Brazil. However, the estuarine behaviors of these metals in the two study areas are very similar. Dissolved cadmium appears more or less to be enriched in the dissolved phase, while dissolved iron and lead are rapidly removed from the dissolved phase when salinity increases. Nickel, cobalt and copper in solution, as well as all trace metals in particulate forms essentially follow a conservative mixing line. The relative significance of the truly dissolved fraction (< 5 kDa; TD) of the metals increased with increasing salinity. Dissolved iron, nickel and lead are mainly associated with the high molecular weight fraction (10 kDa - 0.45 µm; HMW), whereas dissolved cadmium predominantly occurs in the truly dissolved fraction. The truly dissolved fraction is also dominant for dissolved cobalt and copper; however, the high molecular weight fraction and the low molecular weight fraction (5 kDa - 10 kDa; LMW) cannot be neglected for these two metals. Despite the massive aquaculture industry in East-Hainan and the extensive cultivation of sugar cane in monocultural form in Northeast-Brazil as well as general anthropogenic activities, no significant impact of trace metals on the local environment could be detected in the two study areas. Although elevated metal concentrations occurred (in the Wenchang-Wenjiao Estuary and in the Mundaú Lagoon), they were leveled out effectively during estuarine processing. At high salinities, the metal concentrations in East-Hainan and in Northeast-Brazil are approximately at the same level. In comparison with averages of estuaries worldwide, both dissolved and particulate metal concentrations in the two study areas are similar or lower, except for iron probably originating from specific geographic settings.

When it comes to processing, purple pepper and purple corn are poorly utilised even though they are rich in anthocyanins and other nutrients. Therefore, studies focusing on their processing are vital for resolving their underutilisation. In the present work, purple pepper and corn were used to prepare a compound fruit wine. The fermentation process parameters were optimised using single factor tests and response surface design. The sensory characteristics of the compound fruit wine were used as an indicator. The antioxidant potential of the purple compound fruit wine was also assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH·) and hydroxyl radical (·OH) scavenging rates. A purple compound fruit wine with a sensory score of 94.2 and 8.6% alcohol by volume was obtained using a combination of 72.0% purple pepper juice and 28.0% purple corn juice (with an initial sugar content of 23.3%), followed by inoculation with 6.2% Saccharomyces cerevisiae and fermentation for 7.8 d at 23°C. The resulting purple compound fruit wine had a typical harmonious fruit aroma and a mellow taste. Furthermore, the content of anthocyanins in purple compound fruit wine was 1.38 ± 0.14 mg/mL, and the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values against DPPH· and ·OH were 51.31 and 49.08 mg/mL, respectively. This optimised fermentation process could serve as a theoretical basis for the industrial utilisation of purple pepper and corn.

Abstract Background Enteric parasites are the most common cause of parasitic diseases and cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries like Nepal. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among school going children of Lalitpur district of Nepal. Methods A total of 1392 stool samples were collected from school children of two government, two private and two community schools of the same district. The stool samples were examined for evidence of parasitic infections by direct microscopy and confirmed by concentration methods (formal ether sedimentation technique or floatation technique by using Sheather's sugar solution). Modified Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining was performed for the detection of coccidian parasites. Results Prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was found to be 16.7%. The highest prevalence rate was seen with Giardia lamblia (7.4%) followed by Entamoeba histolytica (3.4%) and Cyclospora cayetanensis (1.6%). Children aged 11–15 years and the ones belonging to family of agriculture workers were most commonly affected. Hand washing practice and type of drinking water also showed significant difference. Conclusions The burden of parasitic infections among the school children, coupled with the poor sanitary conditions in the schools, should be regarded as an issue of public health priority and demands for effective school health programs involving periodic health education and screening.