Rheological and physicochemical properties of starches from moist- and dry-type sweetpotatoes.

Although starch makes up from 50 to 70% of sweetpotato (SP) dry matter, its role in cooked texture is unknown. The purpose of this research was to characterize raw starches isolated from SP cultivars and experimental selections (C/S) with a wide range of textural properties when cooked and to investigate the relationship between textural properties of the cooked roots and characteristics of the isolated starches. Shear stress measured by uniaxial compression of cooked SP cylinders served as an objective measure of SP texture. Starches were isolated from C/S representing three SP texture types: moist (Jewel and Beauregard); intermediate (NC10-28 and NC2-26); and dry (NC6-30 and NC8-22). The following parameters of isolated starches were measured: amylose content by colorimetric and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) methods; swelling power, solubility, gelatinization enthalpy (DeltaH), and pasting properties by Brabender amylograph (BA) and rapid viscoanalyzer (RVA). Pasting temperatures for SP C/S measured by BA and RVA were significantly correlated. Due to high shear degradation in RVA, RVA viscosities of starch suspensions decreased as much as 40% during cooking at 95 degrees C, whereas the BA viscosities changed little at this temperature. There were no statistically significant differences among the C/S for amylose or DeltaH. However, significant C/S differences in swelling power, solubility, and pasting properties were observed. Although differences in some rheological and physical properties were observed for C/S starches, shear stress was statistically correlated only with DSC onset temperature (r = 0.78), indicating that factors other than the properties measured on isolated starches are mainly responsible for the texture of cooked SP C/S.

[Experimental and clinical studies of the use of thin-lumen polyurethane gravity drainage in accident surgery]. / Experimentelle und klinische Untersuchungen zur Verwendung einer dünnlumigen Polyurethanschwerkraftdrainage in der Unfallchirugie.

A clinical randomized study was conducted to compare 28 closed polyurethane (PU) drainage systems and 28 open polyvinylchloride (PVC) (Redon) drainage systems. The aim was to find whether the Redon drains could be replaced by PU drains without suction in the field of joint and soft tissue surgery. In another study, 27 PU gravity-drainage systems were implanted for surface electron microscopy. There was no difference in the volume of fluid drained. The tendency to diversion of the secretion induced by a thrombus in the drain was significantly lower in the PU drainage group than in the PVC-Redon group. Extraction of the drain was significantly less painful in the PU group than in the group with Redon drains. No complications occurred in either group. The surface electron-microscope study revealed slight adherence of thrombotic material to the inner wall of the drain in the PU group only. The thrombi were mobile and had a smooth surface, so that they could not block the drainage of secretions. In our opinion, PU gravity-drainage systems could be substituted for PVC-Redon drainage systems in the field of traumatology. This would exclude the potential toxic effects of PVC.

Relationship of cellular fatty acid composition to survival of Lactobacillus bulgaricus in liquid nitrogen.

Concentrated cultures of Lactobacillus bulgaricus were prepared by resuspending cells grown in semisynthetic media in sterile 10% non-fat milk solids. The concentrated cultures were frozen in liquid nitrogen for 24 h. The cell suspensions exhibited decreased viability after storage, and the amount of death varied among the different strains tested. Storage stability of all strains examined was improved by supplementing the growth medium with sodium oleate. Radioisotopes were used to study the fate of sodium oleate with L. bulgaricus NCS1. [1-(14)C]sodium oleate was incorporated solely into the lipid portion of the cells, including both neutral and polar lipids. The fatty acid composition of L. bulgaricus NCS1, NCS2, NCS3, and NCS4 grown with and without sodium oleate was studied. The major fatty acids of strains NCS1, NCS2, and NCS3 grown without sodium oleate were dodecanoic, tetradecanoic, hexadecanoic, hexadecenoic, and octadecenoic acids. In addition to these, strain NCS4 contained C(19) cyclopropane fatty acid. The major fatty acids of all strains grown with sodium oleate were tetradecanoic, hexadecanoic, hexadecenoic, octadecenoic, and C(19) cyclopropane fatty acids. All strains grown in broth containing sodium oleate contained larger amounts of octadecenoic and C(19) cyclopropane fatty acid, and less saturated fatty acids than when grown without sodium oleate. Statistical analyses indicated that C(19) cyclopropane fatty acid was most closely related to stability of the lactobacilli in liquid nitrogen. A negative regression line that was significant at P < 0.001 was obtained when the cellular content of this fatty acid was plotted against death.

Preparation of antimicrobial compounds by hydrolysis of oleuropein from green olives.

Oleuropein, an intensely bitter glucoside, was isolated from green olives. Hydrolysis products obtained from oleuropein in sufficient quantity for further tests were: (i) beta-3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyl alcohol prepared by acid hydrolysis of oleuropein; (ii) elenolic acid obtained by methanolysis of oleuropein, isolation of the intermediate acetal, and subsequent acid hydrolysis; and (iii) oleuropein aglycone formed by the action of beta-glucosidase on the parent glucoside. Mass spectral verification of the isolated compounds and ultraviolet absorption data are given. Oleuropein and its aglycone had similar threshold levels for detection of bitterness, whereas elenolic acid and beta-3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyl alcohol were not judged to be bitter.

Antimicrobial properties of oleuropein and products of its hydrolysis from green olives.

Oleuropein, the bitter glucoside in green olives, and products of its hydrolysis were tested for antibacterial action against certain species of lactic acid bacteria involved in the brine fermentation of olives. Oleuropein was not inhibitory, but two of its hydrolysis products, the aglycone and elenolic acid, inhibited growth of the four species of lactic acid bacteria tested. Another hydrolysis product, beta-3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyl alcohol, was not inhibitory. The aglycone of oleuropein and elenolic acid were much more inhibitory when the broth medium contained 5% NaCl; 150 mug of either compound per ml prevented growth of Lactobacillus plantarum. A crude extract of oleuropein, tested by paper disk bioassay, was inhibitory to 3 of 17 species of bacteria screened, none of which were lactic acid bacteria. The acid hydrolysate of the extract was inhibitory to 11 of the bacteria, which included four species of lactic acid bacteria and other gram-positive and gram-negative species. Neither crude preparation was inhibitory to growth of the seven species of yeasts tested. A possible explanation is given for the previously reported observation that heating (3 min, 74 C) olives prior to brining renders them more fermentable by lactic acid bacteria. Results of a brining experiment indicated that oleuropein is degraded to antibacterial compounds when unheated olives are brined.

Isolation of a bacterial inhibitor from green olives.

A compound inhibitory to lactic acid bacteria was isolated from green Manzanillo olives. The inhibitor is a phenolic compound, is devoid of acid-hydrolyzable reducing sugar, and has a bitter taste. Freezing the olives prior to extraction caused chemical changes which greatly increased the level of the inhibitor, whereas heating prior to freezing prevented its formation.