Analysis of insoluble fiber components in common Indian foods and habitual diets

Dietary fiber components e.g. cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin are estimated in 53 commonly consumed Indian foods, with an objective to get an estimate of habitual level of intakes in Indians. Results indicate that there is a wide range of variation in Indian foods in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content for all the classes of Indian foods. This is useful to modify the diets with varying proportions of fiber but giving the same level of calories. When our values were compared with fifteen values obtained by Kamat and Belavady (1) and nine values of Anuradhaet al (7) the values were found to be comparable (P>.01). However they were significantly different (P<.01) when compared with eleven values of Premakumari (8). A computer program FIBER. INT based on cooked factors is developed for the calculation of habitual level of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin for Indian diets. Total NDF is in the range 20.5–47.6 grams per day for 28 adult males and 15.2–26.1 grams per day for 6 females. However fiber expressed as gram per 1000 calories is 13.1 in females as compared to 11.9 in males. Diets with combination of wheat and sorghum were highest in fiber content (12.5 gram per 1000 K calories).     

Effect of antimalarials treatment on rat liver lysosomal function—Anin vivo study

Effects of treatmentin vivo with the antimalarials:chloroquine (CQ), primaquine (PQ) and quinine(Q) on lysosomal enzymes and lysosomal membrane integrity were examined. Treatment with the three antimalarials showed an apparent increase in the membrane stability. CQ treatment resulted in increase in both the ‘free’ and ‘total’ activities of all the enzymes i.e. acid phosphatase, RNase II, DNase II and cathepsin D. PQ treatment lowered the ‘free’ and ‘total’ activities of acid phosphatase and cathepsin D, but the DNase II activities increased. Treatment with Q resulted in increased ‘free’ and ‘total’ activities of RNase II and DNase II. While ‘free’ activities of acid phosphatase and cathepsin D were low; the ‘total’ activities increased significantly. Our results suggest that a generalized increase in free nucleases activities following prolonged treatment with antimalarials may lead to cell damage and/or necrosis.     

Effect of deposition parameters on mechanical properties of TiN films coated on 2A12 aluminum alloys by arc ion plating (AIP)

1 Introduction Weight saving materials such as aluminum and its alloys are becoming increasingly important and have been attracting increasing attention over the past decade, specially in the automotive, aerospace and chemical industries, and electrical devices because of their high strength-to-weight ratio, high electrical and thermal conductivities, processability and recyclability and good resistance to degradation in some corrosive environments [1,2]. In the automotive industry, there is d…     

Evolution,fruit flies and gerontology

In the past decade or so, genetic theories of the evolution of ageing and studies on populations of fruit flies (Drosophila spp.) in the laboratory have provided a new perspective on the phenomenon of ageing. These recent advances, very different in approach and methodology from traditional gerontological studies, have provided a wealth of knowledge about the mechanisms of ageing, as well as some answers to deeper, more philosophical questions, such as “why do organisms age at all?”.     

Self-Reporting and Test Discrepancy: Evidence from a National Literacy Survey in Bangladesh

This paper aims to explore the discrepancy between self-reported and test-based literacy estimates in Bangladesh. It uses the Education Watch national literacy survey data of 2002, during which the literacy status of a nationally representative sample was identified using the two methods referred to above. The findings revealed that the literacy rate generated through a literacy test was significantly lower than that found when the self-report method was used. The level of discrepancy varied from one population group to another, indicating that literacy assessment using the self-report method cannot be equally appropriate for all population groups. Those with a few years of schooling were at a particular risk of over-estimating their status. The paper makes a case for a written literacy assessment rather than an oral evaluation.     

Self-Reporting and Test Discrepancy: Evidence from a National Literacy Survey in Bangladesh

This paper aims to explore the discrepancy between self-reported and test-based literacy estimates in Bangladesh. It uses the Education Watch national literacy survey data of 2002, during which the literacy status of a nationally representative sample was identified using the two methods referred to above. The findings revealed that the literacy rate generated through a literacy test was significantly lower than that found when the self-report method was used. The level of discrepancy varied from one population group to another, indicating that literacy assessment using the self-report method cannot be equally appropriate for all population groups. Those with a few years of schooling were at a particular risk of over-estimating their status. The paper makes a case for a written literacy assessment rather than an oral evaluation.